Sectional fireplace heater



NOV. 14, 1944. s 2,362,526

SECTIONAL FIREPLACE HEATER Filed Oct. 21, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov.14,.1944. A es-rm 2,362,526

SEGTIONAL FIREPLACE HEATER Filed Oct. 2 1, 1940 4 Sheets-Shet 2 Nov. 14,1944. A. MB. AUSTIN 2,362,526

SECTIONAL FIREPLACE HEATER Filed Oct. 21, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 24 5 3 vNov. 14, 1944. A B, TI 2,362,526

SEOTIONAL FIREPLACE HEATER Filed. Oct. 21, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig /8jnflpnior vVt/orngq 423E773 flus T//\ Patented Nov. 14, 1944 UNITE DSTAT ES PAT OFFIC E SECTIONAL FIREPLACE. HEATER.

Albert B. Austin, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application October 21, 1940', SeriaLNo. 362,068:

11 Claims. 126- 121) This invention relates to a supplemental heater fora fireplace and particularly to a supplemental or auxiliary heater fordischarging heated air into the room to be heated.

As is well known a fireplace is quite ineificient as a heating means.Most of the air heated bythe fire is drawn up the chimney and the heattransmitted to the room is almost altogether that transmitted by directradiation.

While it has been previously proposed to apply air heaters tofireplaces, no practical device whichcould be used with fireplacesalready con.- structed has been produced. Very few people will go to theexpense of having a fireplace entirely torn out and rebuilt merely forthepurpose of installing an auxiliary heater.

It is an object. of this invention to provide a simple and eflicientdevice constructed and ar-' ranged to be fitted to fireplaces ofdifferent sizes. It is afurther object of the invention to provide asimple and efiicient auxiliary-air heating device for a fireplacecomprising a plurality of sectionsv adapted to fit together inextensible relation so that the device can be changed to suit fireplaceshaving difieren-t widths, heights and depths.

It is. alsoan object of the invention to provide an auxiliary airheating device for a fireplace comprising a member or section adapted tofit along the rear wall of the fireplace and having one or more sectionstelescopically slidable thereon arranged to extend along the side wallsto the front of the fireplace, said device having a partition orpartitions extending from the front to, therear thereof forming upperand lower passages communicating at the rear of the device whereby aircan pass. into the lower of said passages, be heated and pass out at theupper of said passages and whereby said device may be changed in size tofit the particular fireplace in which it is to be installed.

It is. a further object of the invention to provide an auxiliary airheating device for a fireplace comprising a casing havingspaced wallsforming a chamber and having slidable sections at the top whereby thedevice can be made to fit fireplaces of different heights.

It is another object of this invention to provide a fireplace heatingunit adapted to be used in new installations of fireplaces andcomprising a casing having chambers therein, said casing extending alonthe rearand side walls of the fireplace and having openings at its frontfor the entrance. and exit of air.

It is still anotherobiectoli the invention toprovide. afireplaceaheati-ng device comprising a hollow casing extending along therear and side walls of the fireplace, togetherwith mean for forcing acurrent or air through said casing preferably by having a fan:disposedin a casing at l the frontof the fireplace.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a fireplaceheating device comprisinga casing having portions extending along therear and sidewalls of the fireplaceconstructed and arranged toalso actas a humidifier.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will-befullys'etforth in the following description made inconnection with theaccompanying drawings inwhich like reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the several views and in which? Fig. lis a view infront elevation of the device in position in a fireplace;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 3-3' of Fig.4 as indicated by the r w Fig; 4a is a view partly in side elevationand, partly in vertical section online 4'-4 of Fig. 2 as indicated bythe arrows;

Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the device inassembledfposition, some parts being broken away-and. others shown invertical section;

Fig; 6fis. a, horizontal section taken substantially on line ii- 560f 5as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a. vertical, section taken substantially on line, l'-- ofFig'.5 asindicated by the arrows; Fig.8 is ahorizontal section taken on lin8-8, of Fig- 5 as indicated. by the arrow;

Fig. 9 is a partial view' in front elevation, some partsbeing brokenaway and others shown in vertical section! Fig. 10. is apartialperspective view, some parts being broken away and others shown invertical section;

Fig. 11. is a vertical section taken substantially on line l l- -ll of;Fig. 10 a indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 12: is a perspective view of one side of th devicev showing a modisation; Fig. 13.;is a horizontal section'taken substantially on line13-13 of Fig. 12 as indicated by the arrow showing the structureinstalled in a firep c Fig. 14 is a .YiQW partly vertical sectionthrough h firerla ewal vand.p rtly i Sid @1 t n s ow n a .-mb lifl. atqn;.

151s a View in front elevation of the, parts shown in Fig. 14, someportions being broken away and others shown in vertical section;

Fig. 16 is a horizontal section on line lG-lB of Fig. 15 as indicated bythe arrows;

Fig. 1'7 is a partial view in end elevation showing a modification;

Fig. 18 is a vertical section taken on line l8-l 8 of Fig.1? asindicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 19 is a vertical section taken on line l9-l 9 of Fig. 9 asindicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, a device is shown comprising a centralsection 20. This section as shown is hollow having spaced front and rearwalls 20a and 2% respectively. The said front and rear walls extendvertically in substantially parallel relation at their lower portionsbut extend forwardly in somewhat diverging relation at their upperportions. Section 20 is closed at its top and bottom but is open at itsends. This section is shaped to fit against the rear wall of afireplace. A partition 200 extends vertically in section 20substantially midway between the ends thereof dividing the chamber insaid section into two parts. Sections 2l are also provided and thesesections have end portions 2la of the same shape in vertical crosssection a section 20. The portions 2la, however, are somewhat smallerthan the ends of section 20 and are constructed and arranged to fitsnugly in and telescope into the ends of the section 20 as shown inFigs. 2, 3 and 5. Sections 2l also have forward portions 2 lbillustrated as disposed in vertical planes and making an angle somewhatgreater than a right angle with portions 21a. The vertical walls ofportions 2lb are substantially parallel from top to bottom. The sections2| are also closed at the top and bottom but like sections 20 are openat their ends. A partition 2lc extends from front to rear of portions 2lb dividing the chamber therein into upper and lower passages. Partition2lc in the embodiment of the invention illustrated does not extend tothe end of portion 2 la. It will be seen that sections 2l can be movedmore or less into section 20 and positioned to give greater or lesswidth 'to the rear portion of the combined assembly. Front sections 22are provided, the same having portions 22a of the same shape in verticalcross section as the portion 2 lb. Portions 22a, however, are madesomewhat larger so that portions 2lb may fit snugly and slidablytherein, thus bringing said parts into telescoping relation. Sections 22have forward portions 22b of the same shape and size as portions 22a butextending at an obtuse angle thereto so that portions 22b extendsubstantially at right angles 'to the section 20. Sections 22 areprovided with partition 22c extending from the front thereof to the rearthereof. through both portions 22a and 22b. Partition 220 is reduced inwidth at its inner end and projects from portion 22a, the same being ofa width soas to slide snugly between the walls of portion 2lb abovepartition 2lc and -in contact with the latter. As shown in Fig. 5partitions'22c and 2lc extend upwardly at a small angle to thehorizontal. It is obvious that sections 22 can be positioned atdifferent points on sections 2l so as to increase or decrease theforwardly extending part or side part of the assembly. As shown moreparticularly in Figs. 4, and 11 the sec tions 22 are closed at thebottom but have a fixed top wall only at the rear portion which fitsover the section 2l. A swinging portion 22d is provided connected to thetop-portion for vertical swinging movement and having downwardlyextending side portions 22e which fit snugly between the side walls of amovable section 23. Section 23 has a top wall 23a and downwardlyextending parallel side walls 2317 which fit snugly between the sidewalls of section 22. The section 23 is of angular formation to fit thesimilar formation of section 22. Each section 23 can be raised orlowered to different positions and the swinging portion 22d ispositioned with its forward top edge against the top wall 23a. Somedistance below its top each section 22 has secured to its inner side anut 22h adapted to receive a bolt 22 extending between the sides of saidsection and having a head countersunk into the side opposite that towhich nut 22h is secured. Bolt 22 f can be tightened and will clampsection 23 in its adjusted position.

Front panel member or grids 24 are provided at each side of the device.Said members 24 have flanges 24a and 24b which fit snugly over the outerside of the walls of sections 22 at their front portions. In order tohave the panels 24 applied to fireplaces of different heights and toaccommodate different vertical" adjustments of sections 23, the same aremade in two parts. A small strip of metal 25 is secured to the innersides of section 22 and has a front portion 25a extending between saidsides at the front thereof. A nut 26 is provided and preferably weldedto the inner side of portion 25a. A plate 21 is provided, the samefitting over the adjacent portions of the panel 24 and extending alongthe inner edge or flange thereof. A screw 28 passes through plates 25and 21 and into nut 26 for holding plate 21 in place. A small convexwasher 29 underlies the head of screw 28. It will be seen that the upperand lower parts of panel 24 can be rather widely separated or can beclose together and still be covered by plate 21. Adjacent its top panel24 has its flange 24b made of greater width and a U-shaped clip or plate30 is secured thereto. Panel 24 is provided with opening 24d which arealined with the open front of the section 22 and while these may be ofany desired shape, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated theyare shown as substantially triangular.

A top panel or grid 32 is provided similar in front appearance to panel24. Said panel 32 has a box-like portion 32a. at it rearside and likepanel 24 is made intwo parts. A U-shaped or trough-shaped plate 33embraces the portions 32a and has secured thereto as by welding the nuts34. A plate 36 is provided which extends between and over the endportion of the two parts of panel 32. Screws 35 extend through plate 36and members 32 and 33 and into the nuts 34 for holding or clamping plate36 in place. It will be seen that the adjacent ends of the two parts ofpanel 32 can be disposed at different distances apart and still be'covered by plate 36. This structure acommodate the adjustment in widthof the device made by adjusting sections 20 and 2|. The end portions ofpanel 32 are provided with downwardly extending tongues 32b which arereceived within the clips 30 as shown in Fig. 9. The panel 32 is thussupported on panels 24. As shown'in Fig. l the tops of panels 32 and 24are flush with each other and the panels 24 and 32 extend over theadjacent brickwork 38 of the fireplace structure. Panel 32 is providedwith openings to match those in panels 24 and thi is merely forornament.

The partitions 220 have smallrectangular cups or vessels 22gformedthereon adapted to receive asnatae water. Thiswillbe evaporatedand carried into. theroomwith theheatedair; The device isrthus alsoa-humidifier. r l r The device is designedtoxbefitted into fireplaces ofdifferent sizes. In installing, the. device the section 20 as statedwillbe, placed against the rear wall of the fireplace at the centralportionthereof or it may replace the firebrick already inthe fireplace.The sections 2| will be telescoped into section ifl andwill-then beadjusted so. that their outer sides fit against the'end wallsofthefireplace. Sections 22 are-then placed .over the front portions ofsections 2 I and these will beadjiisted so as to come flush withthe-front of the brickwork 38 or thefront of the fireplace wall. The

sections 23 can be adjusted to get the desired height for the fireplace.The panels24 and 32 can then be placed in position and'secured by therespective screws described. With a firein the fireplace the flame andhot gases fromcombustion will heat the-walls of the varioussections,par.- ticularly of section 20. Air will be drawn into the. devicethrough the openings in panel 24 and below partition 220. This air willpass rearwardly in thepassage beneath partition 22c andpartition 2 l cto the rear portion of section 2 I Here theair will pass around the endof partition 2 lo and up wardiy into the passage above partitions 2.lcand 220 and will-pass out through the openings in the upper part ofpanel 24-. There is'a strong current of air through the device and alarge amount of heated air is delivered from the upper part of sections22. into the room. A great deal of heat is therefore delivered tOqthBroom which would otherwise not be utilized. Theair will also behumidified by the water in vessels 22g. 7 It will be noted that there,is a closed passage in the upper part of sections 22 beneath the topwall 23a of section 23 and beneath'the top 22d and between walls 22e. Ii l;

The structure above described as stated is. for installation infireplaces already built. Where persons desire to have more fire spaceand are- Willing to remove the side fire-brick, the form shown 'in Figs.12 and 13 may be used. Sections 20. and 2! are as already described buta section 40 would be used in place of sections 22 and23. Section 40 isof rectangular form in 'verticaland horizontal cross section and hasvclosed. top and bottom as well as front. .An opening 40a is provided inone side wall adjacent'th'e front and bottom of the device at the outerside thereof and a similar opening 40b is provided adjacent the frontand top at the outer side thereof. When the device is installed as shownin Fig. 13 the openings 40a and 4019 will communicate with some openingor passage at or adjacent the front of the fireplace. With theinstallation the front'of section 4!) is in the'rear of and concealedby. the facing 42 of the fireplace structure. Fireplaces are veryfrequently constructed with a side wall or surface 43 as shown in Fig.13. If desired a passage may pass from the side wall 43 through thefireplacestructure and communicate with opening 40a. "Asimilar'passagewill be provided at the upper part of the fireplaceto'communi- 46 isshown disposed bctween the heating deviceand the.facing. or fire: brickof the fireplace-p l Referringrftoffi'gs; 14 to'16,.a: device: is shown suchias illustrated iniFigs. 11to 11 but inwhich the lower plates -24 are not used. Instead" of the lowerp1'ates.;24="'a casing 50 is provided, the. samelha-ving a. fiat-surface50a at one side. adapted to: fit against: the: front of the fireplacewall and tube fl ush with the end of thezsidelsection 22; Said casingl:isvprovided with vertical flanges 50b adapted torbedisposed. atuthesides:of the front portion ofsection 22belowithe partition 220. Theupper part of: casing: 50 as shown in Fig. 14: is substantially flushwith the top of partition 22c and is overlapped by the lower portion ofplate'2-T; Casing 5flrests-0i1the floor and has a portion at the; frontof" the fireplace wall 5|; The end-of casing 56 .which' faces toward.the center of the fireplace or laterally is open and a: small motor 52is mounted in the bottom ofcasingidb'eing securedby the screws 53.which-.motor has securedto itsarmature shaft a fan 541 i i In operationmotor 52; which willloe provided witha cordandplug. willbe connectedto'some convenient.socketqorgsource. of electric current. Fan 54 willbe-operated andwill be'arranged to draw air into the open end of casing50 and direct theesame intothe passage inzportion 22b below partition22c. .Thisair will .pass through the side portion or portions. into therear portion and around the end of partition 2Icandwill then passoutwardly through the. upper passage above pal-. titlon 22c and intotheroom through the openings 24citin plate. 2 4.. With thisiforced.circulation the air will bepositively delivered outwardly into the roomand, a great and increased heating effect will be produced. The casing50 is quite small andwill take up little room at one or both sides ofthe fireplace.

InFigs. lland 18 a modified form of'theinvention-is shown. The frontplates 24 are. used and are the same was already described. Aqcross topplate. Si ls provided which replaces the plate 32,shown lnFig sQland 2.Plate EB-hasa top or upper vertical portion 56a anda forwardly anddownwardly projecting-portion 56b. At each end of plate 56 a flange 55cextends. downwardly, the

same being substantially triangularinform and tapering downwardlytowardthe front of plate Mas shown in Fig. 18'. Plate56 will besupported upon the plates 24.just asis the plate 32. Plate 56 will beintwo parts and the adjusting means including the center platecorresponding to plate 36 will also'be used. i

The portion 56b supports the plate or flanges 560. The plates 56cprevent'hot air issuingfrom the'heating device through the openings 24afrom being drawn into the upper portion of the fireplace'at the innersides of plates 24. 'At the upper portion of the fireplace there is astrong tendency for the air to be drawn up the chimney throughthefireplace. By having the plates 560 the heated air "issuing fromopenings 24a passes outinto the room.

From the above descriptionit will be seen that Ihave provided a veryefficient and adaptable structure forFanair heating device to be usedwith a fireplace. The various sections described will preferably bemadefrom sheet metal, such as steel, which will be of a gauge tosuit'operating conditions. With the'described structure thedevice canreadilybe fitted into 'afireplace already in use. The variousadjustments enable the device to be brought to a size to fit thefireplace both in breadth; depth and height. The panels 24 and '32 areornamental and the design of these I asstated can beyariedas desired:The'device' can be produced at a very reasonable cost and the same willadd greatly to the heating effect of a fireplace. The device willrequire little if any attention for maintenance and it will be made tobe very durable. It will be obvious that for new installations'two ormore ofthe casing portions may be made inte ral. The device has beenamply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successfuland efficient.

t will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants invention, which generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An air heating device for a fireplace comprising a hollow sectionconstructed and arranged to fit against the rear wall of said fireplace,a second portion at one side of-said section telescopically fitting saidsection and movable transversely of said rear wall to fit various widthsof fireplaces, said combined parts extending along the rear and sides ofsaid fireplace to the front thereof, a partition dividing the chambersin said parts which extend along said sides into upper and lowerpassages communicating in said first mentioned section, said passageshaving openings adjacent the front of said fireplace whereby air willpass into the lower of said openings around said partition and out atthe upper of said openings.

2. An air-heating device for a fireplace comprising a hollow sectionhaving a chamber therein constructed and arranged to fit against therear wall of said fireplace, hollow portions at each side thereof havingchambers therein constructed and arranged to fit telescopically withsaid first mentioned section, said combined parts thus being extensibleor contractible so as to extend along the rear and side walls of saidfireplace to the front thereof, said portions havingv partitions thereinextending from the front thereof and dividing the chambers therein intoupper and lower passages communicating in said first mentioned section,said passages in said last mentioned sections having openings adjacentthe front of said fireplace whereby air will pass into the lower of saidopenings around said partitions and out at the r upper of said openingswhen said sections are heated by the fire of said fireplace.

3..The structure set forth in claim 2 and a vertical partition adjacentthe center of said first mentioned section extending across the chambertherein whereby said passages are separated at each side of said device.

4. An air heating device for a' fireplace comprising a hollow sectionhaving a chamber therein, said section having portions adapted to extendrespectively along the rear wall and side-walls of a fireplace to thefront thereof, partitions respectively disposed in and extendingrearwardlyfrom the front of said portions that. are adapted to extendalong the side walls of said fireplace, said may be moved to differentvertical positions to fit different heights ofside walls of fireplacesand whereby air may'pass into the lower of said openings through saidpassages and out at the upper of said openings.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, said portions having adjacenttheir front ends movable top portions respectively in the rear of saidlast mentioned sections-adapted to be moved with and engage said lastmentioned sections to maintain the top of said device closed.

7 6. The structure set forth in claim 4 and a clamping means at eachside of said first mentioned section for respectively holding said lastmentioned sections in fixed position.

' 7. An air heating device for a fireplace, comprising a casing havingspaced walls, said casing being constructed and arranged to fit againstthe rear and side walls of said fireplace and comprisingextensible'telescoping sections which may be relatively moved toincrease or decrease the depth of said casing at each side thereof tofit different depths of fireplaces, said casing extending to the frontof said fireplace at each side and having open front portions, saidcasing having partitions extending respectivcly'from the front thereofrearwardly and dividing the same into upper and lower passages, whichpassages communicate adjacent the rear of said casing, and aperturedplates at the front of said casing at both sides thereof alined with theopen front portions thereof and having flanges at their outer sides foroverlapping the front of said fireplace, said casing having open upperends adjacent its front and sections at each side telescopically fittingsaid open upper ends and adapted to be moved to different verticalpositions to suit different heights of fireplaces, said apertured platesbeing divided so that they can be extended to correspond to thepositions of said vertically movable sections.

8. An air heating device for a fireplace comprising a casing havingspaced walls, said casing being constructed and arranged to fit againstthe rear and side walls of said fireplace and comprising extensibletelescoping sections which may be relatively moved to increase ordecrease the depth of said casing at each side thereof to fit differentdepths of fireplaces, said casing extending to the front of saidfireplace at each side and having open front portions, said casinghaving partitions extending respectively from the front thereofrearwardly, and dividing the same into upper and lower passages, whichpassages communicate adjacent the rear of said casing and aperturedplates at the front of said casing at both sides thereof aligned withthe open front portions thereof and having flanges at their outer sidesfor overlapping the front of said fireplace and a top plate extendingacross the top of said fireplace between the side portions of saidcasing and having a flange overlapping the front of said fireplace atits upper side, said top plate being supported upon said aperturedplates at the sides of said casing.

9. An air heating device for a fireplace comprising a casing having arear portion with spaced walls adapted to substantially fit against therear wall of a fireplace and having forwardly extend ing portions ateach side with spaced walls adapted to extend along the side walls ofsaid fireplace, said casing comprising a plurality of telescopingsections constructed and arranged to be moved to different positionsto'fit fireplaces of different widths and depths, said side portionshaving openings therein at the front of said fireplace, partitionsextending respectively from the front of said side portions rearwardlybetween the top and bottom thereof forming upper and lower passagescommunicating at the rear of said casin side plates disposedrespectively in front of said side portions at the front of saidfireplace and having openings therein alining with the openings in saidside portions and a top member extending across the front of saidfireplace between the upper ends of said side plates, said casing havingvertically movable sections at the upper end of each side portion at itsfront adapted to be held in different positions to suit fireplaces ofdifferent heights, said side plates being divided intermediate theirends and a plate overlying said side plates and extending between thedivided portions thereof and overlapping the same so that said portionsmay be extended to correspond to the height of said side portions.

10. An air heating device for a fireplace comprising a casing havingspaced walls, said casing being constructed and arranged to fit againstthe rear and side walls of said fireplace and comprising extensibletelescoping sections which may be relatively moved to increase ordecrease the width out at the upper of said openings at each side ofsaid casing, said casing having open portions adjacent the top at eachof said side portions, sections telescopically fitting said openportions and adapted to be moved to different vertical positions to fitdifferent heights of side walls, an openwork member extending verticallyat the front of each side portion of said casing, said last mentionedmember comprising extensible sections and means for holding saidsections in proper position to suit the height of said device andfireplace. i

11. An air heating device for a fireplace comprising .a hollow memberconstructed and arranged to fit against the rear wall of said fireplaceand having portions extending forwardly along the side walls of saidfireplace, said portions having partitions therein respectively formingupper and lower passages communicating at the rear part of said member,hollow members telescopically fitting the front ends of saidportionsrespectively and movable forwardly and rearwardly relativelythereto and extending forwardly along said side walls respectively tothe front of said fireplace, a partition dividing the chambers in eachof said last mentioned 'members into upper and lower passages whichalign with and form continuations of said first men tioned passagesrespectively, said last mentioned passages having openings adjacent thefront of said fireplace whereby air will pass into the lower of saidopenings through said lower passages to therear of said first mentionedmember and forwardly through the upper of said passages and out at theupper of said openings and said last mentioned membersmay be movedforwardly and rearwardly to fit fireplaces of different depths.

ALBERT B. AUSTIN.

